Apparatus for opening a bobby pin



Dec. 22, 1964 APR] ETAL 3,162,202

APPARATUS FOR OPENING A BOBBY PIN Filed March 12, 1962 INVENTOR. 45/04 M 4%? 601/420 14 A p/W United States Patent )fiice 3,162,2a: Patented Dec. 22., 1965 3,162,202 APPARATUS EUR OEENIN G A BOBBY PIN Leida M. Apri and Eduard V. Apri, Altadena, Calif, assignors to Rexall Drug and Chemical Company, Los

Augele's, cane; a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 178,967 1v Claim. (:Cl. 1321).

This invention relates to bobby pin openers. More particularly, itrelates to bobby pin openers wherein, the hobby pin is retained in an opened condition on the opener.

A bobby. pin is commonly known as that type of hair clip which is fabricated from a unitary length of. spring metal. The spring metal is bent into a U-shape wherein the legs of the U lie closely adjacent one another. Conventionally, the extent of one of the legs is formed into a series of convolutions lying. adjacent the other of the legs.' Normally, the unconvoluted-leg of the pin extends beyond the convoluted leg. The portion of the convolutedleg immediately adjacent the free or cantilevered en-dof. such leg extends at an angle away from the longer straight leg of the pin'. Such a pin is normally utilized to retain selected portions of a womans hair in place relative to a fashionable hair arrangement.

Whensuch pins are used, it ismost generally the case that the woman'uses one hand to retain in place the selected lock ofhair to. be pinned. The other handmust accomplish: theprocess of selecting a bobby pin from a supply thereof and opening the hobby pinfor engagement with the selected lock fheld by the other hand. The

spring engagement between. the substantially parallel legs of the hobby pin,how eve r, makes it difficultfor a bobby pin to be opened easily and swiftly with only one hand.

It is quite common. for a woman using a hobby pin to either force the ends open by engaging a fingernail be.- tween the'opposite cantilevered ends of the pin, or to utilize the mouth to engage the longer end of the pin while pulling the convoluted leg outwardly against the action of the resilient. return bend joining the. legs. The first of these two methods often results in broken fingernails and cut fingers, especially when the endsof the hobby pin are not protected. by a resilient cushion as is frequently the case. The second ofv these two methods, is an unsanitary method and is damagingto the teeth.

This invention provides an apparatus with which a hobby pin may be engaged for openingof the bobby pin. The invention provides a device wherein the bobby pin, after being opened, may be left engaged with the device; the pin will remain inan opened condition for subsequent engagement by the user. This second feature of the invention provides. that if a. last minute adjustment inthe arrangement of. the hair is requiredsuch an adjustment frequently requiring.the use oftwo hands, a hobby pin previously opened need not be returned to its supply but maybe retained ina condition for immediate use in clipping the hair in place. These, features are provided in an apparatus which isisimple, safe, inexpensive, and effective.

Generally speaking, the hobby pin opener and holder of the inventioncomprises a block of material defining a, planar surface. A second-surface intersecting the planar, surface at an acute angle, and extending downwardly obliquely from the first surface, is defined bythe block. The second surface curves away from, the intersection with the first surface to an edge spaced apart from the intersection, the edge being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the planar surface. The block also includes a third surface which is spaced from and connected to the first andsecond surfaces by connector bars extending between and joined to the surfaces. The third surface is plane and forms an extension. of the secon surface a sufiicient distance to provide a slot betwee the second and third surfaces along the intersecting lin between the first and second surfaces. The slotis $111 ficiently wide between the. second and third surfaces t admit only one leg of a hobby pin. The bobby pin i opened by the user grasping the pin, engaging and slidin the free end of a first pin leg along the third surface unt. thisleg enters the slot and engages the first surface an the second pin leg engages the secondsurface, and the pushes downwardly on the pin connector to resilientl spread the legs of, the pinapart by the first pin leg slidin downwardly along the first surface and: the second 1e sliding downwardly alongthesecond surface. When th pin has been moved relative tov the block such that on of. the zig-zag configurations-of the pin is engageable wit theedge, the pin is retained on the block with the leg of the pin spaced; apart. 'In. this condition the fore causing engagement between the pin and the block ma be removed and the pin will beretained in an opened cor dition upontheblock with the legs of the pin-being e11 gaged against the,v edge and the planar surface of th block.

The invention also includesthe combination of a bobb pin opener and holder with a dispenser for bobby pin: The dispenser dispenses a singlev bobby pin upon eacI operation of the dispenser. The pin is dispensed in mannen soastobe readilyengageablein one hand opera tion with the opener, theopener serving to open the dis pensed pin and to retain the opened pin thereon.

The above mentioned and other features and object of this. invention are more fully set forth in the follow ing detailed description. taken in conjunction with thl accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1-is;an elevational view of the opener ofthi invention illustrating a. hobby pin dispenser incross section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of tilt bobby pin opener block as taken along line IIII 0 FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3is an elevational viewof-a bobby pin.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the hobby pinopener 10 i illustratedmounted to a, planar base. or mounting platt 11. The openerlll comprises a block 12 of material de fininga planar face.14 In apreferred form of the in vention, the block. 12 is fabricatedfrom -a rigid materia such as plastic, and the planar face 14 is oriented'ver tic ally with respect to an upper surface 15 of the mount ing base 11.-

The block 12 defines a second surface 16 intersecting the first surface 14; at an acute angle intersection 17 Prefer-ably, the second surface 16'is definedby the uppe1 surface of the block 12- and curves concavely upwardly away from intersection 17 to an edge19 spaced apar from intersection; 17. Edge 19 preferably lies paralle to firstplanarsurface 14. A portion 18 of surface-16 ad jacent to edge 19.-prefer-ably lies substantially perpendicu la rtto firstsurface. 14. I

To facilitate further description of the opener 10, reference is had-tea bobby pin 26 illustrated inFIGURE 3. The bobby pin is normally fabricated from a lengtl of narrow strip of material, usually metal, having suitable resilient characteristics. The strip is formed into 2 U-shapedconfiguration having a pair of legs 21 .and 22 joined by a return bend portion 23. One leg 21 is formed into a zig-zag configuration with a portion 25 immediately adjacent the free or cantilevered end 26 thereol extending away from the end portion 27 of the other leg.2;2.; In the conventional bobby pin the distance between the return bend portion 23 and the free end 26 of the figure leg 21 is less than the length of leg 22 from bend 23 to end 28. The ends 26 and 28 of legs 21 and are normally covered-with a bulb or' cushioned bead of rubber or'plastic material tobluntthe' respective' is of the legs of the bobby pin 20 toprevent severing a block 12"defines an internalcavity 46 opening downstrands of hair and to prevent scratching or gouging the scalp .of -the..user of ithebdbby l This bulb' 'ther provides an enlargement :which further serves l to in maintaining the bobby pin in open condition upon opener through frictional-engagementwith said :ner 10 as will hereinafter become moreobvious.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the end portions 25- and of.legs 21 and 22,.respectively; lie at an acute angle ative to one another and they diverge relative to each i Let, toward ;the endsz26 and 281ofthe respective'legs.

end surface, 16. on block 12' adjacent intersection 17 an acute anglevof a-largermagnitude than the' angle :Ween'theend portions.25 and 27 'Eof'bobby pin'20.

ln operation of the opener. 10, a bobby pin'20 is initially aitioned in engagementlwith the block '10 sothat the i Y i 26 of leg21. engages the concave upwardly second "face 16 While. the end.. 28sof leg 22 engages. the first nar .surface14 adjacent:intersection 17 of block 12.

e user of the; bobby pin then forces the-return bend e application of engaging force between -=pin 20 and Ick 12 is continued and such motion continues until 1 26 of the figuredleg 21 of pin-20 passes'over edge" of the second .surface 16. At this-poir'1t-"edge'19 gages within a convolution or zig-zag' configuration 32 the shorter leg'QZl.v "Most generally the edge 19 is' gaged within the zig-zag convolution 32 closest to the e end portion 25. of leg:21 since the portionfl'tl of sur- :e 16 adjacentedge19. lies substantiallyperpendicularsurface14. This engagement is sufiic'ient-tocause :tional retention betweenzleg 21-and edge 1 19. This ention, and .also. the frictional engagement between T I 22 and surfaces, is sufi'ieient; to maintain the bobby l 20 upon block 12 in an open condition.

To facilitate increased frictional engagement between 22 and first planar :surface 14 of- -block--12, a plurality wardly of the block 12. Block l2 preferably is mounted to base 11 by engagement with amounting block 47 secured to the upper surface 15 of base 11 and engaged Within the cavity46. I V j I i To furtherffacilitate speedy and convenient'use of-the "opener 10, this invention includes a dispenser '50 for bobby pins mounted to base 11 adjacentjthe bobby pin opener 10. The dispensers). is fabricated; from a pair of relatively reciprocable\sleeves51aand 52. Sleeve 51 j is mounted to the upper surface 15 of base 11 and defines an'JaXiaI-boreSS. }The-upper. end of sleeve 51"defines. e angular. relation defined between first surf-ace 14 and I 15 V v t receptacle and has an externaldiametersmaller than the aninwardly extendingv-annular'fiange"55. '1

The upper --reciprocatory sleeve 52- defines a hobby pm internal diameter defined by flange55 ofsleeve 51. {Cylinder 52 --has.an{outer"peripheral flange"57 adjacent its lower end engagedwithinboresli of sleeve 51 and abuttable' against -flange 55." The lower end of sleeve 52"is closed by a bottom part 58 configured concaveupwardly 'of sleeve 52. An aperture '59 is: formed centrally of the.

I bottom' 58 of sleeve 52; A"'cap-member' 61 is engaged with the upper-end'62'of sleeve- 52. The cap member-61 has a-recess 63 'inl its under surface '64, whichar'ecess has 1 is formed axially 'of cap61in' communication' with the,

uppermost limit of recess 64.

ders 51 and 52; andisse'cuIed" in a'rigid'rnanner relative I 'to the mountingjbase-llx' Pedestal 68' is'ldisposed so as to project through |aperture}59 in-the 'bottom58 of cylin der.-.52 :In the 'prefrred-"form of thefinvention, pedestal a 68 has a'cori'cave recess formedyin its'u pper end. .A coil spring ismounted within-the bore-53 of cylinder'51 and bears against the lower side'ofsleeve '52itourge sleeve 52 upwardly oficylin der 5'1 softhat flanges and 55 V V are normally'engaged. 7 r w A cavity 75 is defined within theiupperfreciprooatory cylinder 52. This cavity -75', in conjunctiodwith the apparatus described above; .{has "concave {opposite ends. The cap 61 is removablefrom-sleeve f52 'so thata plurality i of bobby pins'20 may'be disposed within cavity 75.

raised ribs 35 are provided in the first Isurface i1 4r ese-iribs' 35 arrrdisposed' parallel to intersection-'17. gagement" between the" bulb or cushioned bead-30of 22; with .one ofthev ribs 35- increases the-frictional en- Q gement between the bobby pin 'and the Y block' and. g =reby further' serves toretain the pin ZOQlIlPODblOCk 12,- r

rtherrno're,- a preferred opener -IO; includes. an insert of soft plastic .or rubber mounted so as"to define edge Preferably thebobby pins 20 arev disp'osed'in' cavity 75 with the-return bend portionsz. '23 "oriented jupwardly of cyl e i J x To operate the dispenserjm: thef up'per, cylinder. 152

is depressed downwardly'agains't the .acti'on'of .thetspring 70 soth-at the pedestal-68 then'protrudes1upward1y through aperture 59. As pedestal 68' emerges through.aperture 1 5 9 it'randornly selects oneofthe'lower endsj28fof. bobby of surface 16,:this insert 36 deforms whentengaged 1 creased fricrd surface '40,is spacedjfr'orn' intersection {17 to define.

opening 41 relative ito the intersection;17. -As illus tedin FIGURE 2, surface 40 is conveX-'upward ly. Theface '40 is defined by a "horizontal web or rib 4 2 untedcbetween apair of brackets 43:v extending from edges of the block 12 defining thefir'st planar surface The. surface ;40 aids in properly locating end Z S the'llongeilegzz ofiipin 20 relative-to the intersection and to first surfacefof blo'clc12. The. width-of open 41 along;.the.-extent of 'surface '16 is 'insufficientto rnit both ends 2 6. land 28.0f pin 20"to pass-'therethrough;

is results in-en'd. 26 being'enga'gedwith"surface 16'for V venient therealong toward edge g ['0 further facilitate'.propen orientation offjthe bobby 20 relative toiblock .,12,".a rib i45-is formed *injblock along "each of. theroppositeiedges ofsurfac'e 16; Each, 7

extends from edge19ftotheremotelirnit of the third face. 40. Preferably thegribs- 45 are'parallel to. one then f :rj. .l l'.

' pin; 20 forcing that particular; b lbliy pin; upwardly relative to thefcavity' 15. The concave downwardlyrcon figuration' of recessfiflin cap.61-jfo11cesthe-'rtiirribend'' portion 23 of the selected bobby pin, centrally 'of the cap 6l toward aperture -65.' As depresss'io'n of cylinderl 52 relative to sleeve 51 continues, Tthe 'J-ilPPQZ' .en'dfbf the.

selected bobby --p'in' emerges through aperture to fbe graspedby the operator of the dispenser." The pedestalmember68 and spring'70-cdrnpriseirieans operatively connected TOJthG, receptacle 52 to project the returnbend V portion23 of1 afselected pin-20 from the'receptacle upon each operation ofthe dispenser 50. v

- in conjunction with the'bobbypin'opener 10, thedis-- penser 50 has particular utility since the dispenser may be operated with,v only one hand." This novelicornbinvation of apparatus allows a woman. preparing a'fashionj ablehair {arrangement to keep one -hand in contact with, 7 vthe particular lock ofhair undertreatment, thus leaving the'other hand free to operate the dispenser- 50. This. free ihandthen-can .grasplhe randomly lected bobby;-

pin emerging jfrorn. dispenser .50 iand ope iit' th ough the usefof the opener 10.]1 V i As may g beqobser ved-fron the foregoingnscription this inventio'n provides apparatus for guickjand sirnple,

selection of a bobby pin from a supply of bobby pins and for effective and simple opening of the bobby pin. The apparatus further provides a means whereby the bobby pins, after having been opened, may be retained in an open condition on the device utilized for opening the pins.

While the invention has been described above in conjunction with specific apparatus, this has been by way of example and is not to be considered as limiting to the scope of this invention.

We claim:

An opener and holder for a bobby pin having first and second similar parallel legs joined at one end by a resilient connector to maintain the legs resiliently together and having free ends movable apart relative to each other, said opener and holder comprising a block of material having a first vertically extending substantially plane surface and a second surface extending downwardly obliquely from the first surface; said surfaces intersecting along a horizontal line at an acute angle to each other; said second surface being continuous, concave and extending to an outer edge spaced from and substantially parallel to said horizontal intersecting line; a third surface spaced from and connected to the first and second surfaces, said third surface being connected to the first and second surfaces by connector bars extending between and joined to the surfaces, said third surface being pla and forming an extension of said second surface t spaced from the second surface a suflicient distance provide a slot between the second and third surfaces alo said horizontal intersecting line of the first and seco: surfaces, said slot being sufiiciently wide between t second and third surfaces to admit only one leg of t bobby pin, said bobby pin being opened and held by t user grasping the connector of the pin, engaging a sliding the free end of the first pin leg along the thi surface until the last mentioned pin leg enters said slot a: engages the first surface and the second pin leg engag the second surface, and then pushing downwardly on t pin connector to resiliently spread the legs apart by t first pin leg sliding downwardly along the first surfa and the second leg sliding downwardly along the seco: surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,144 Anderson Mar. 14, 19 2,233,120 Andonov Feb. 25, 19 2,559,826 McKinney et a1 July 10, 19 2,581,592 Locke June 8, 19 

